A hospital leader is being protected by security guards after being threatened with physical violence.

The person, who is a member of the Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS trust board, is escorted by the guards around the hospital and to and from their car.

The board member concerned has been carrying an attack alarm and the trust is working with the police.

It is understood that the threat arrived in an anonymous, handwritten letter.

The issue came into the public spotlight at the board meeting at Epsom Hospital on Friday, November 9, where a security guard waited outside and one plain-clothed guard sat among the public.

Present at the meeting was the trust's chief executive Matthew Hopkins and a number of other board members. Mr Hopkins is not believed to be the person affected although the hospital refused to reveal who is under threat.

Emotions at the meeting ran high in the wake of the collapse of Epsom’s merger with Ashford and St Peter’s in Surrey and controversy over the use of Liverpool End of Life Pathway.

A spokeswoman for the Epsom and St Helier University Hospital’s Trust said: "We take the safety of our staff very seriously, and will not hesitate to act if that is ever called in to doubt.

"An anonymous threat was made to one of the senior management team recently, which prompted us to ensure that extra security staff were on hand at Friday’s trust board meeting, which is open to all members of the public.

"The additional security presence was in no way linked to the matters being discussed at the meeting - such as the de-merger of Epsom Hospital.

"We are currently working with the police about this matter and will not comment further."

Comments

[deleted]
5:56pm Wed 14 Nov 12

[deleted]

More secrecy from the "Senior Management" about who was involved which coupled with the bullying attitude to staff as the newly arrived hatchet man CEO set about slashing staff numbers and making staff apply for their own job with a reduced number of posts makes them seem uncharismatic figures not worthy of caring about. Patients too feeling the effects of their staffing cuts, the new eagerness to prevent poorly patients being admitted and kicking them out indecently quickly. I would guess their secrecy stems from guiltiness at the way they have treated staff and patients. I recall the breathtaking arrogance for example of the Director of Communications and the rest of his super long title threatening to complain to the Press Commission about the Sutton Guardian for reporting what they were up to and the CEO allegedly telling a group of worried staff that it's all going to happen anyway with a dismissive wave of his hands. This is reported as only a written threat and not actual violence which no reasonable person would condone. However if a secret management bully boy got a bloody nose or lost a bit of sleep themself through worry I for one as a patient would not shed any tears.
This long-running management campagin to undermine our St. Helier Hospital is a disgrace and heads need banging together metaphorically to safeguard the future of the local people's St. Helier District Hospital and leave its vital and excellent services uncut.Michael Pantlin

More secrecy from the "Senior Management" about who was involved which coupled with the bullying attitude to staff as the newly arrived hatchet man CEO set about slashing staff numbers and making staff apply for their own job with a reduced number of posts makes them seem uncharismatic figures not worthy of caring about. Patients too feeling the effects of their staffing cuts, the new eagerness to prevent poorly patients being admitted and kicking them out indecently quickly. I would guess their secrecy stems from guiltiness at the way they have treated staff and patients. I recall the breathtaking arrogance for example of the Director of Communications and the rest of his super long title threatening to complain to the Press Commission about the Sutton Guardian for reporting what they were up to and the CEO allegedly telling a group of worried staff that it's all going to happen anyway with a dismissive wave of his hands. This is reported as only a written threat and not actual violence which no reasonable person would condone. However if a secret management bully boy got a bloody nose or lost a bit of sleep themself through worry I for one as a patient would not shed any tears.
This long-running management campagin to undermine our St. Helier Hospital is a disgrace and heads need banging together metaphorically to safeguard the future of the local people's St. Helier District Hospital and leave its vital and excellent services uncut.

Ipsoregulated

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